justdidntseeit | [[ wheelsy, south carolina // saturday night, henenlotter's saddle lounge ]]

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[[ wheelsy, south carolina // saturday night, henenlotter's saddle lounge ]]

[ "we can't cancel, can we?" ]

She threads her fingers with Bill's as she takes his proffered hand.

(Convincing him had been easy; a simple, "It's your last weekend as a free man -- let's go out on Saturday" had gotten an immediate smile and a nod of agreement. The hard part was assuring him they should stay in town instead of driving to Columbia for a night out.)

Gravel crunches beneath her heels as she slides from the cab of the truck.

"S'pretty crowded tonight," he says with a glance around the parking lot.

"Let's hope there's not another rodeo on," she teases, squeezing his hand. She ignores the tight feeling in the pit of her stomach and doesn't let herself double-check for June's car as they cross the gravel lot.

Bill holds the door for her and she ducks inside; the four-piece band stops warming up and the lodge buzzes with the hushed hum of nearly a hundred people.

When Bill steps in beside her, the house lights flash.

"SURPRISE!"

Resisting the urge to bite the inside of her cheek (and stifling a laugh at the hand-painted Welcome Back ~~Sherr~~ Sheriff!! banner), Kate turns to give him a hopeful smile.

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"I am."

He nods before his smile turns a bit embarrassed.

"Bit too good, actually. I hope you don't mind doin' the drivin' when we head back."

She grins and holds up the keys she'd eased from his pocket when they first started dancing.

"Way ahead of you."

He looks at the keys and his hand goes to his pocket.

"Hey," He laughs.

"Looks like she got you, sheriff." Pete jeers as he and Christy slow dance close by.

Bill gives Pete an unamused look that turns into a grin when he sees the twigs and bits of leaves sticking out of the other man's hair.

"That reminds me," Christy says, jabbing Pete in the side. "Where's your keys? You better give 'em t'me now."

"But, butter-muffin," Pete whines.

Leaving Christy to handle matters Bill turns his smile and attention back to Kate.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Kate fits herself closer to Bill.

(All the better to whisper in his ear.)

"'Butter-muffin'? If we ever sound like that ... "

Bill let's out a loud laugh at Kate's words before catching himself.

"No, I think I'll stick with darlin'."

His arms go around her and his cheek rests against her hair.

"Or maybe-- mom?"

For the first time he misses a step and it's because he's looking over Kate's shoulder, grinning at June who's standing on the edge of the dance floor watching them.

Kate mostly stifles a wince when his foot connects with her shin; she turns in Bill's arms, nearly bumping into Pete and Christy as she searches out June.

Her stomach knots, hope and apprehension warring for top billing.

Bill looks down at their feet then to up to Kate's face.

"Sorry."

Taking Kate's hand he maneuvers them out of the way of the other dancers then starts over towards June.

"Hey, mom. You been around all night?" Bill smiles brightly at her.

"Didn't wanna interrupt your dance," June says, glancing at Kate then back to Bill; wearing a smile, hesitant, but there. "I just got here, sorry for bein' late."

Her last words are directed at Kate, and there seems to be a little more to the apology in her eyes.

The final chords of the song are fading as Kate shakes her head, giving June a careful smile while she smooths a hand down her pencil skirt.

"No, don't apologize -- it's great to see you, Mrs. Pardy."

Edited 2009-06-17 08:25 (UTC)

June nods, throat working quietly, then looks back at Bill.

"Quite a big party they're throwin' for you, Bill."

"Yeah." Bill grins and glances around the lodge, "Ain't it great? Kate helped organize it 'long with Sarah."

"She invited me." June nods again, eyes on the 'welcome back' banner.

"I'm glad you could make it."

(And she is; June's attempt at a genuine smile -- for this, for Bill -- is putting a lump in Kate's throat.)

She turns to Bill and gives him a gentle nudge with her elbow.

"Hey, Mr. Life of the Party, why don't you ask your mom to dance?"

Bill throws Kate a big smile then holds out his arm to his mom.

"Sure, how 'bout it?"

June hesitates, glancing between Kate and Bill.

"Oh, I dunno, Bill. I was just stoppin' by an'-- "

"Come on, mom. Please?" His hopeful, imploring smile wins her over and she takes a hold of his arm.

"Okay."

He grins at her then looks over at Kate while heading back out to the dance floor.

"I'll be right back."

"Take your time," she says softly, a small smile curving her lips while she watches the two of them weave their way toward an open spot on the floor as another song starts.

I been down, I been down too far to care
I keep getting in my car but I'm not going anywhere
And I been had, well, at least that's how it looks
And it's not funny like on TV
And it's not smart like it is in books

And I wonder, yeah, I wonder how the world keeps spinnin' 'round
Where's a boy with bad intentions gonna settle down?

And I don't know what you've been told
But the streets of where I'm from
Are paved with hearts instead of gold

"M'glad you're here," Bill says as he and June move together with the music. "Was wonderin' if they forgot to invite you."

"No, I just... " She moves her hand along his shoulder to smooth the collar on his button down shirt.

Bill tilts his head at her and she studies him, his smile and bright blue eyes and he's so happy. She shakes her head barely and swallows the words admitting her reservations about him going back.

"I was out in the yard again today and overdid it a bit, laid down for a nap an' next thing I know, it's already late."

Off the dance floor Rudy steps up to Kate, two beers in hand.

"Hey, where'd Bill go? Was gonna beat him again when y'all were through."

Kate glances over and smiles at Rudy.

"His dance card's a little full."

I recall when I was twenty-three
Wondering how anyone could fall in love with me

She takes the full beer from Rudy and reaches for his free hand.

"But mine's not."

"You know you can call me when y'need help around the house," Bill tells her and she nods.

"I know. It was just a little gardenin' that I got carried away with."

She gives him a reassuring smile and after studying her a moment he gives in and nods.

"Alright, but I'm here if you need me."

Rudy watches the beer transfer to her hand then looks at her, blinking in surprise.

"You wanna dance?"

"I do," she says, swallowing a quiet laugh at Rudy's gobsmacked expression. "C'mon -- let's see if you're better at Xbox and dancing than Bill."

Now I'm old
Hell, I'm well past twenty-five
And I can't seem to fall in love no matter how I try

Setting their drinks on a nearby table, Kate leads Rudy out to the floor, pretending not to notice the redness in his cheeks when he puts a hand on her waist.

And I wonder where I'll wind up but I'm headed west I know
Wind my way through Texas and into New Mexico

"Well, actually-- " Rudy starts to tell her about his two left feet that folks say he has, but then they're already out on the floor.

After a while of watching his feet and not stepping on her he starts to relax and lifts his head to smile at her.

As the song continues June and Bill go quiet, focusing on the steps instead of words.

There's still the deep fear coiled around June's heart and insides about Bill going back, and she can't imagine what in the world she'd ever do without him. Right now, though, she sets it all aside to let him have his night.

Kate returns the smile, trying to bolster Rudy's shaky confidence.

(Really, he's not terrible -- he just has a case of nerves.)

"If I didn't know any better, deputy, I'd say you've had lessons."

The color in Rudy's cheeks deepens, and it takes considerable control on Kate's part to keep her grin in check.

(It's possible she has a soft spot for Rudy; he tends to unwittingly bear the brunt of most of the jokes around the department.)

And I don't know what you've been told
But the streets of where I'm from
Are paved with hearts instead of gold

"Kate, Jesus, I'm sorry -- "

"No, no, it's okay -- "

She hobbles toward the edge of the dance floor.

"Jesus Christ, lemme get you somethin', some ice, or a shot of somethin' -- "

"Rudy, really, I'm -- "

"But lemme -- "

"Rudy."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"It looks like it's swellin' -- "

Yeah, the streets of where I'm from
Are paved with hearts instead of gold

She manages a chuckle as she massages her aching ankle.

"I'm fine, I promise. I'll sit this next one out, and then I want another dance from you."

She can't decide if he looks more surprised or shocked.

"Kate, you're a brave, brave woman."

When the song ends Bill takes a step back from June and smiles at her.

She reaches up and pats his cheek, returning the smile.

"Thank you for the dance, son."

"Sure. You hungry? There's plenty of desserts."

"Not a whole lot of real food, I'd wager," She says with more amusement than disapproval as they leave the floor.

"Mom, it's a party."

It is a party -- and a successful one, at that.

By the time the band's finished their encore, only scattered crumbs are left in the serving dishes littering the bar, and Mary's muttering behind the counter about being completely out of Pabst and Southern Comfort.

"Kate," Rudy says, a little tipsier now than he was before, "you made me look good out there -- y'sure your ankle don't hurt none? I can -- can drive you t'the hospital over in Bishopville."

"I'm fine," she assures him for the umpteenth time. "Thanks for the dances."

"Don't y'go thankin' me, it was my pl-- "

"Don't you go gettin' all starry-eyed," Amanda says to Rudy as she walks past, a too-sweet smile on her alcohol-flushed face. "She'll be back across the country before y'know it, leavin' you an' Bill back here in the dust."

A slow frown steals across Rudy's face; stung, Kate opens her mouth to respond, but doesn't know what to say as Amanda crosses the room to bid good night to Bill.

Rudy looks after her retreating figure, then glances at Kate as he scratches at the back of his neck.

"Why's she gotta be like that for?"

"I ... "

Kate trails off, shaking her head.

Bill is sitting at a table with Dave, each of them slouched and hanging onto mostly empty mugs and arguing.

"I'm tellin' you, Colts gotta shot this year," Bill insists.

"No, no, no, no, no. Steelers. Their defense, unstoppable," Dave thumps the table for emphasis, rattling the assortment of empty glasses and bottles littering the top.

"Defense don't mean shit if the offense ain't makin' any points." Bill shakes his head at Dave then looks up as Amanda approaches.

"Hey, headed home?"

"I sure am," she drawls, reaching the table and placing a hand on Bill's shoulder. "I think m'gettin' a ride from Christy 'n Pete, 'less you 'n the little woman've got room t'spare for me."

Sarah looks up from the counter, where she and June are sorting the empty bake- and Tupperware into organized stacks for their respective owners.

"No can do," she calls, keeping her voice easy and light. "I'm afraid Kate's haulin' the sheriff an' Rudy in the truck."

"What?" Dave turns to peer at his wife. "Honey, we're takin' -- "

"Nope, Bill an' Kate are," Sarah says quickly, shooting Dave a smile that's bright with warning.

Bill swings his head to look at Sarah, then swings it back around to look up at Amanda, smiling and blinking through a dizzy spell.

"Sorry, I guess we're takin' Rudy with us. Christy'll getcha home, though. She took Pete's keys awhile back."

June gives Sarah a curious look, but doesn't say anything, focused instead on snapping a plastic lid onto a bowl.

Amanda's face falls a little, but her tone is saccharine and wheedling.

"So what you're sayin' is, you wanna see me gone, is that it?"

She shakes her head in exaggerated sadness and leans down to brush Bill's cheek with a kiss.

"Good t'have y'back, sheriff. Y'all have a good night."

Across the room, Rudy watches the exchange and manages to position himself between Kate's line of sight and Amanda.

"You an' Sarah threw a helluva good time."

"Yeah? Thanks, Rudy -- I'm glad everyone could make it."

"'Course not," Bill shakes his head and the tips of his ears turn pink.

"Thanks. An' thanks for comin'. Have a goodnight."

He gives Amanda a smile and nod then turns back to Dave.

"You buyin' the next round?"

"I bought this round," Dave replies, emptying his glass as Bill does the same with his own.

"Yeah, but it's my party." Bill's smug expression lasts until June comes up to take his empty glass away.

"I think it's time both you boys, an' Rudy," she lifts her voice to call out the other deputy's name, "call it a night an' head home."

"Aw, mom."

"Mrs. Pardy."

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